Play:Like
football, an opponent may tackle the ball carrier at any time. However,
blocking for the ball carrier is not allowed and tacklers must wrap the
ball carrier with their arms. The ball carrier may run or kick the ball
forward but can only pass the ball laterally or back. The game is free
flowing and play is only stopped if someone
scores, breaks a law, or propels the ball out of bounds ("in touch").
Similar to the off-sides rule in soccer, a rugby player is off-side
anytime that player is in front of the team-mate that has control
of the ball or the team-mate that last played the ball. However, being
off-side is only illegal if the player who is off-side attempts to
participate in the game at that time.

Teams:Traditional rugby consists of 15 players on each side. Players in a team are divided into eightforwards and sevenbacks.
Forwards are generally bigger and stronger, and take part in the scrum
and lineout, while backs are generally smaller but faster, more agile
and often the main point scorers for the team.

Field:Rugbyis played on a field 144 meters in length including two 22 meter try zones and 70 meters wide.

Equipment:To play rugby, all you need is a rugby ball! Most players also wear a pair of boots (cleats) and a mouth guard.

Scoring:There are four ways to score points in a rugby game.

Drop Goal –
During play a team may drop the ball on the ground and kick it
over the goal, this is called a drop goal. This is worth 3 points.

Try – Once over an opponent’s goal line (their ‘try zone’) the ball is touched to the ground. This is worth 5 points.

Conversion –
Upon scoring a try the scoring team gets an attempt to kick the
ball over the crossbar and through the posts of the rugby uprights.
This is worth 2 points.

Penalty – If the opposition commits a penalty, a team can choose to kick at the goal. A penalty kick is worth 3 points.

Tackling:Rugbyis
a continuous, full contact sport. What this means is that once a tackle
is made play continues. A tackle occurs when the ball carrier is taken
to the ground by a member of the opposition. Once tackled, a ball
carrier must release the ball. Once a player makes a tackle they must
roll away from the play.

Ruck:Once
a player is tackled to the ground a ruck is formed when one or more
players from each team close around the ball. The ball then emerges and
play continues.

Maul:When
the ball carrier is held up by a member of the opposition and by a
member on his/her own team it is called a maul. The ball can either be
removed from the maul or taken to the ground which then forms a ruck.

Scrum:A
scrum is used to restart play after a minor infringement occurs (i.e.
forward pass). The scrum consists of eight of the 15 players, called
forwards. These eight players bind together and come head to head with
the eight players of the opposition. The ball is thrown into the middle
of the scrum on the ground and the players work with their feet to hook
the ball behind them making it available to play. The ball is then
collected by the scrumhalf and passed out to the back line.

Lineout:
When the ball goes out of bounds play is restarted with a lineout. Two
lines are formed with opposing teams at least 5m from the sideline.
The ball is thrown into the tunnel between the lines. Teams will
lift players to contest for the ball.

Positions: The first eight players, known as forwards or the pack, play in the scrum.The remaining seven players play as the backs.

Prop (Prop forward, tighthead, loosehead)

The two prop's primary
responsibilities are to win scrums, lineouts and to hit the rucks and
mauls. Generally one of the biggest and stockiest players on the pitch,
props, along with the hooker make up the front row of the scrum and tend
to lift the lock in lineouts.

Hooker (Hook, rake)

His primary responsibilities are to
win scrums by hooking the ball back, (typically) throwing into
the lineouts and being very active at the rucks and mauls.

Lock (Second row, lock forward)

You have two Lock forwards. These
players tend to be the tallest players on the pitch and are as a result
vital at lineout time. They act in similar fashion to the props in that
they are sturdy in defense and hard charging on offense.

The two Flankers fit on either side
of the scrum helping push the props, but should always be ready to
break off immediately from the scrum to chase down the ball. The Flanker is looking to be as near the ball as
he can at all times and serve as a link between the forwards and backs
on offense and as a roving defender when not in possession.

Number 8 (Eight, eightman, eighthman, loose forward)

The Number 8 sits at the back of the
pack (literally the eighth man to fit into the scrum) and like
Flankers will be looking for loose balls and then supporting his backs
when on the attack.

Scrum Half (Inside half, half-back, scrum off, scrummie)

A key position on the pitch. The
scrum half is responsible for feeding the ball into the scrum on offense
or guarding and pressuring the opposition scrum half on defense. The
Scrum Half also typically passes the ball from scrums to his fly half or
other backs.

The key decision-maker amongst the
backs whose role is to distribute the ball. Fly Halves should generally
be able to pass very well and be able to kick well as they will be
called upon to kick the ball and relieve pressure given they typically
receive the ball first amongst the backs.

Inside Center (Second five-eighth, first centre, second five or center)

The Inside Center tends to perform a
lot of the defensive work for the backs and is integral to getting the
ball out wide to the wingers. The Inside Center is typically the largest
back if he is being used for lots of crash ball or is one of the most
skilled if he is being utilized more as a second Fly-Half.

Outside Center (Centre, centre three-quarter, second center)

Typically very good try scorers and
ball carriers, the Outside Center is the last man before the wingers.
Typically the Outside Center is used to set up the Winger, but should
attack any opportunity in the defensive line first and foremost before
passing to the winger.

Winger (Wing, wingman, wing three-quarter)

Out on his own on the side of the
field, the Winger may not get the ball as often as other backs but he
is designated as the finisher and should look to attack any space opened
up for him and score tries. Wingers are usually the fastest players on
the field given the nature of their job.

Fullback (Custodian, sweeper, number 15)

The Fullback is the last line of
defense as he normally hangs back in defense to cover opposition kicks
and as such should have superb tackling skills. A good fullback also
needs excellent field vision to pick the right spots to attack on
offense when he sees an opening. He will need to be able to kick well
from deep to help clear the ball and relieve pressure when the
opposition are attacking.